Today is your annual physical. Your doctor checks your blood pressure, reflexes, and asks you all kinds of questions about your daily habits, nutrition, and exercise. She probably orders tests to check your sugar, cholesterol, and other things. In the end, you get a diagnosis: you’re in great health! Or perhaps the diagnosis isn’t good. She orders more tests. A disease is lurking and needs to be eradicated.
As human beings made in the image of God, we have spiritual health as well as physical. And since the Fall, it’s also important to get regular spiritual checkups. As Christians, we have a Great Physician who can heal our spiritual maladies. Instead of checking your blood pressure, He may check your love level. He may examine your attitude instead of your reflexes. He may “test” your obedience, contentment, and patience. What would be the diagnosis? Would it be good news? Or is the disease of sin lurking behind a plastic smile?
How can you—with the Holy Spirit—diagnose your spiritual health? One way is to pray through some Scripture passages like 1 Corinthians 13—how many of us could say we have a clean bill of health on love? If we substituted our name where we find the word “love” in verses 4-8, how many of us could say with integrity that we are patient? What about when you’re driving? Were you kind to the waiter at dinner last night? Do you keep a record of wrongs longer than your grocery list with your husband? How’s the diagnosis so far?
Or you could try another passage: Colossians 3. Do you “set your minds on things above”? (Verse 2) Do you “forgive as the Lord forgave you”? (Verse 13) That’s a tough one sometimes, isn’t it? Perhaps you could start simply with the prayer from Psalm 139:23, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” What might the Spirit be revealing to you, even as you read that?
Examining your spiritual health is not meant to be a guilt trip. It is an exercise to humbly and truthfully see yourself as God sees you. As sinners, none of us will have a clean bill of health this side of heaven. What part of your soul needs the Healer’s touch? There are helpful tests we can use to diagnose our spiritual health. How much do you long for heaven? How often are you led by the Spirit? Do you serve others? Are the fruits of the Spirit evident in your life?
Our articles and advice on spiritual health can help you examine specific areas of your spiritual life. Pray the prayer of Psalm 139 and see where the Spirit leads. It is our prayer that you will find yourself in good spiritual health.